Roof door structure for vehicles

Abstract

A vehicle roof structure including a stationary roof panel having an opening and a movable roof panel having a contour conforming to the opening. A handle is attached to the movable roof panel for manually positioning the movable roof panel. A support structure is connected to the stationary roof panel along the opening for releasably receiving a sliding bar extending from the handle. The support structure includes a plate secured to the stationary roof panel and a wall portion connected to the plate and defining a locking hole formed within the wall portion to receive the sliding bar. The handle includes an unlocking member for disengaging the sliding bar when positioned within the locking hole. In addition, the sliding bar contains a cam surface having a projection for contacting the unlocking member. Further, as least one inner panel is slidably positioned along the opening of the vehicle roof structure and supported by the wall portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A vehicle roof structure comprising: a stationary roof panel having an opening;   a movable roof panel having a contour conforming to said opening;   handle means attached to said movable roof panel for maunually positioning said movable roof panel, said handle means having a sliding bar extending therefrom; PG,15   support means connected to said stationary roof panel along said opening for releasably receiving said sliding bar, said support means including a plate secured to said stationary roof panel, said support means also including a wall portion connected to said plate, said support means defining a locking hole formed within said wall portion to receive said sliding bar;   at least one inner panel slidably positioned along said opening; and   sliding means provided in said wall portion for slidably supporting said at least one inner panel.   
     
     
       2. The vehicle roof structure defined in claim 1, wherein said sliding means includes rails extending along said wall portion for slidably receiving said at least one inner panel. 
     
     
       3. The vehicle roof structure defined in claim 1, wherein said movable roof panel is glass. 
     
     
       4. The vehicle roof structure defined in claim 1, wherein said at least one inner panel is a sunshade. 
     
     
       5. The vehicle roof structure defined in claim 1, also including pivotal means connected between said plate and said movable roof panel for pivotally positioning said movable roof panel. 
     
     
       6. The vehicle roof structure defined in claim 1, wherein said handle means includes unlocking means for disengaging said sliding bar when positioned within said locking hole. 
     
     
       7. The vehicle roof structure defined in claim 5, wherein said pivotal means includes at least one pantograph-type bracket. 
     
     
       8. The vehicle roof structure defined in claim 6, wherein said handle means includes spring means connected to said sliding bar for biasing said sliding bar to project from said handle means, and wherein said sliding bar includes a cm surface having a projection for contacting said unlocking means. 
     
     
       9. The vehicle roof structure defined in claim 8, wherein said unlocking means includes an unlocking bar and means for slidably mounting said unlocking bar on said handle means. 
     
     
       10. The vehicle roof structure defined in claim 8, wherein said unlocking means includes a guide surface for engaging said cam surface and forcing said sliding bar out of said locking hole. 
     
     
       11. The vehicle roof structure defined in claim 8, wherein said unlocking means includes a recess for engaging said projection to prevent said sliding bar from slidably engaging said locking hole.